Bacon injecting machine



Jan. 18, 1955 s. T. MQRELAND l-:T Ax. 2,699,717

BACON INJECTING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1952 4 Sheets-$heet l l ""-4 22' Il 02 ;lllllyllLLLllL, 4 l

'5 mm1?" l :11. i hr-llrfwwfw-L LJJ; s INVENTORS'.

Trai/VEZ Jan. 18, 1955 s. T. MORI-:LAND ET AL 2,699,717

BACON INJECTING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 18, 1955 s. T. MORELAND ETAL.

BACON INJECHNG Mmmm;

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 23, 1952 ||||l||||||||||||||||;||, wlmi Jan 18, 1955 s. T. MQRELAND ETAL BACON INJECTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F'ed April 23, 1952 LINE rif@- United States Patent O BACN INJECTIN G MACHINE Stephen T. Moreland and Walter V. Halleld,

Indianapolis, Ind.; said Hatfield assignor The present invention relates to a machine primarily intended for injecting pickling solution, or any other suitable fluid, into the body of bacon slabs, or any other permeable substance; and the primary object of the invention is to improve and simplify previously known machines for accomplishing a comparable purpose. The machine disclosed herein accomplishes, more simply and less expensively, substantially all of the functions of the machine disclosed in the copending application of Stephen T. Moreland Serial Number 186,183, ljled September 22, 1950, for Machine for Injecting Bacon Slabs or the Like; and embodies many of the structural details disclosed in the said copending application. Essentially, the invention disclosed herein constitutes an improvement upon the machine disclosed in the said copending application, through simplification of the automatically controlled actuating mechanism, and through a reduction in the number of moving parts and the introduction of an indexing conveyor for carrying products to be permeated to and from the injecting station. Addi' tionally, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, pneumatic motors are substituted for the hys draulic motors of the said copending application, whereby further simplification of the actuating system has been elfected.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds,

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, our invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specic construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, taken from the left-hand end of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation, l but drawn to an enlarged scale and ken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental transverse section taken substantially on the line 4, 4 of Fig. 3;

similar to Fig. with parts bro- Fig. 5 is a further enlarged fragmental vertical section through one syringe of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6, 6 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig.7 is a similar section taken substantially `on the line 7, 7 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration, showing the electrical and pneumatic controls of the machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that we have illustrated a machine comprising a frame 10 in which are journalled parallel axles 11 and 12 upon which are mounted, respectively, sprocket pairs 13 and1 4 supporting a continuous, flexible conveyor 15.

An auxiliary frame, indicated generally by the reference numeral 16, is mounted upon the main frame 10, substantially midway in the length of the conveyor 15, so that said` conveyor travels past the frame 16. The auxiliary frame 16 comprises, essentially, a plurality of upstanding posts 17 upon which is lixedly mounted, near thelevel of the upper run of the conveyor 15, a stripper plate 18 provided with a multiplicity of perforations 19 (Fig. 2) with which register a similar number of 2,699,717 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 needles 20. Each needle is an element of a syringe assembly carried by a block 21 mounted for reciprocation toward and away from the conveyor 15.

The block 21 is formed with a multiplicity of cylinders 22 (Fig. 5) each of which opens through the upper surface of the block, and each of which is provided, at its lower end, with a threaded bore or port 23 in which is received a bushing 24. The outer end of each bushing 24 is internally threaded for the reception of a cap Z5 which carries a needle 20 formed, at its distal end, with a multiplicity of radially-opening perforations 27. A valve 28 is spring-supported in the bore of the bushing 24,. and resiliently closes a port 29 providing communication between the interior of the cylinder 22 and the interior of the needle 20, so that fluid may flow, under pressure, from the interior of the cylinder 22 through the needle 20 to emanate from the perforations 27; but reverse l'luid ilow is positively prevented.

In each cylinder 22 is reciprocably mounted a piston 30 formed with an axial bore 31 therethrough, the outer end of said bore being guarded by an annular gasket 32. A mutilated stem 33 is reciprocably supported in the piston bore 31, and carries a mutilated cap 34 at its inner end. The outer end of each stem penetrates a head 35 and is lxed relative to said head by suitable means such, for instance, as a nut 36 threaded on the stem and turned down against the upper surface of the head 35.

It will be clear that, it will lift the stems cap 34 of each stem engages its piston; and thereafter further upward movement of the head 35 will draw the pistons 39 upwardly with respect to their cylinders 22.

as the head 35 is moved upwardly,

The outer end of each bore 31 being open (by reason i for instance, the position of Fig. 5, each piston will be retarded by a dashpot elfect, so that the head 35 will move into sealing engagement with the gasket 32. Further` downward movement of the head 35 will drive the pistons downwardly, thereby forcing luid through the ports 29 and the needles 20 to be ejected through the perforations 27.

A shell or cover 37 (Fig. 2) is suitably secured to the upper surface of the block 21 and cooperates therewith to dene a reservoir 38 in which the head 35 is located and with which the outer ends of the piston bores 31 communicate, whenever the head 35 is spaced from the gaskets 32. The cover 37 will be provided. with one or more ports 39 through which the reservoir may be charged with uid to be injected by the syringes.

The block 21 is provided with bosses 40 slidably guid ed upon the several posts 17. t

A plurality of plungers 41 will be suitably secured to the head 35, and each plunger is reciprocably guided in, and penetrates, a boss 42 formed on the cover 37, said plungers emerging to the outside of the reservoir assembly. A reduced portion 43 at the upper end of each plunger penetrates a plate or spider 44, and. nuts 45 are threadedly received on said reduced plunger ends to secure the plate 44 immovably to the several plungers.

A plurality of guide rods 46 have their lower ends secured to the cover 37; and guide rods loosely penetrate the plate 44, a coiled spring 47 being sleeved on each guide rod and being conlined between the plate 44 and the outer surface of the cover 37, said springs acting resiliently to hold the plate 44 at a maximum distance above the cover 37, and thereby to hold the head 35 in its uppermost location within the reservoir 38.

The stem 48 of the reciprocating element of a fluid i 33 of all of the syringes until the` the upper ends of said which, by rotation relative to the stem, can

aegon/1w beadjusted-toward andaway from anabutment'surface` 26 carried on the cover 37 and a jam nut 52 is likewise threaded on the stem 48 tolOck the wheel 51 in any selected .position of adjustmenn relative .to-said stem'.

Now,l it will be seenzthat, as. theinotor 491isenergized to force the stem 48 downwardly, the plate `44 will move downwardly, carrying .the head .35 .'therewith, through i the mediumof the plungers '41... Thesprings -47 will cause the reservoir to move synchronously with the head 35,

whereby-the needles 20. willy Ybe .shifted .toward fthe= con veyor 15. lfra, slab of .baconi103,. or. similar product, is

concurrently inregist-ry .with thebank or gang of syringes,- theneedles willenterv the slab.; and-the parts areso proportioned and :designed that the extremities 'of-the needles willbe stopped,eby .engagement-ofi the bosses 40' with abutment shims. 40.', when the tipsofethewneedles are .f just short 4ofwthe :surface of-.the .conveyor y15,- Now,V as` the stem 48-eontinues tofmove downwardly, the springs 47 .will be .compressed and the'head..35;will.move downwardlywith respect-to the .block-21,. carrying the pistons 30 therewith, toexpress .uid .from .the cylinders 22 through the needles Ztliand into the body of the slab103.

The extentof downwardnrnovement of thepistons 30 within.their -cylinders 22 may `be adiustably limitedY by adjustment: of .thehand wheel 51,.. since .such movement" will bestopped-when said handwheely abuts the surfacel 26.V

Asfthef stem 48-r is. moved upwardly, of course, the springs 47 will. act, tirs-t, to: lift the head .SSI relative-to thetblock 21, thus; drawing fluid fromwithin the reservoir 38;.int'o-.eachvof1 the. cylinders v22;:and, whenthe head 35- reaches its illustrated position within the reservoir, l'urthe;y

upwardwrnovement of the stem.48;will;lift the-block 21 andthe .entire reservoir, to return .the same `to the positions-.illustrated'in :Fig: 2.

Since the slabs 103 are not necessarily of uniformsize, sov that, in.some-instances..` some of the .needles 20may beilocatedoutside the perimetral boundaries of. a slab, it -isdeSrable-:to provider splash guard .means present instance, we supported curtains 53 .and.54 at the opposlte'sides -ofthe. .block 21, each curtain preferablycomprlsing a .series of. laterally elongatedslats; 55 vhingedly joined in depending succession,.by suitable hinge means`V suchas the-.rings56f We lprefergto drive'the conveyor. 15. step by step,y each-- mavementof'thefconveyor bringing. a'fresh slab llrof materiabto-.be impregnated, into vregistrywith thega-ngof syringes. We have illustrated a preferred driving means forrthegconveyor primarily. in Figs. .3- and 4.. A pneumatic motorxfSI 'having La 4.reciproeating stem 158 is mounted onA a suitable .portion-of. the frame 1G adiacentthe shaft 12,:

shaft E12, but*l driving-ly. conneetedtooneway clutch'62 mountedv 'onsai'dshaftg thearrangement'being suchlthat,

as the rack-.moves'toward'the' leftias viewedin Fig-3,l the lpinion'tStFwillactthrouglrthe 'clutch 62 to rotate the shaft 12; while .the `pinion `)vill rotate in the opposite direction, upon"moveme`nt-`of 'the rack to the right,V without affectingthe shaft. An idler roller. '61 engages the upper. surfacefof 'therack59 to hold the samepositively in meshwithithe .pinion 60.2'

As.y is. indicated fin Fig.: 8, the motor 57 comprises 'af cyliiider63linwhich is reciprocably mounted a piston-k 64 carryingtheste'mSS'. A pipe 65 leads from-a source (nobshownlof .air under'pressure; while pipes .66 and 67 lead'respectively to the opposite ends of the cylinder 63.-. A control valve isindicated generally by the lreference v numeralr68-andmay include a slide member 69 formedv witha supplyl passage-70 and exhaustspassages 71 and 72; Solenoids 73.fand 74 are .operatively connected.v to the slide1member 69 'to' shift ,-thersame in opposite directions withlgfrespect tofafportedrplate 75 'with which the pipes 65, 66 and 67 are associated. When the slide. member...

69isfimitsfillustrated position, :communication .is established;.` through the passage70, between-fthe pipe-65 and the;pipe-66 :\to supply zairV under pressure .to the right-hand end'wof .the cylinderfrto `advance the..piston i164. and stem 58; .whilethepassage t 71 1 communicates@ with the pipes 67 toaexhauststhe.left-handrend ofthe cylinder63y Whenithe-solenoid"74;is energize'd,'the slide member 69' willibeishiftedttothe opposite end of its path, wherein thefpassageffmwill establishfcomrnunication between the# pipesirand 67 while \fthe1pass'age l'72 will-.communicate with the pipe 66 to exhaustrthe right-hand end of the In the V(it) cylinder,l whereby the'piston 64"will be moved "to the right to retract the stem 58.

Similarly, the motor 49 comprises a cylinder 76 in which is reciprocably mounted a piston 77 operatively connected to the stem 48. A pipe 78 leads from the source of air under pressure, while pipes 79 and 8i) communicate, respectively, with the opposite ends of the cylinder 76, said pipes extending to a ported valve plate' 88 upon which the slide member 82 moves. A valve 81 comprises a slide memberl 82-provided with a supply passagev83 and its stroke, .thereby causing the passage-83-to establish*- communication betweenithepipes-78 and 80 and bringing* the passage .84 intotregistry with-the1pipe--79`to 'exhaust Y the. upper endofr-.the .cylinder 7 6;.= S01 that the piston 77wl willbe` moved. upwardly. to .retract the. stem` 48.*'

A source ofelectric energy for=.er1ergizing.the-solenoids` 73,.'74, 86 and.87 is indicated.by=.the transformers.` A

line'n90. leads from one endet-.the secondary coil-of said'- transformer to. one sideofieach of aplurality ofnormally open switches.` 91",' 92', 93.and 94.. A fingerY 95- (Fig.A l)

mounted.to.rnove with the plate.44, engages -allever 96- to'holdfthe switch 91 vclosed Whenever the' stemv48 is fully retracted. When the S switch `f9.1 V'isi' closed, an energizing circuit for the' solenoid 73 41s established through wire 90,

switch 91', wire 97,'solenoid 73, wire' 98=.and. wire 99` toV the other side of thetransformer.v Energiza'tionfof thel solenoid 73 willishift the slide member'69. of valve168toits `illustrated .position,-. whereby-fair under pressure .willi be Ysupplied'to the'rightlhandend of cylinder 63 and' thev lefthand end'of the ycylinder. willbe exhausted'. Thereby;

they piston, 64 will bemovedv to the'left,'.the' rack59willsdrive the pinion 60 in a counter-clockwise direction, theA clutch-'.62xwillxbe actuatedito: driverthe shaftl 12-correspondingly, and the conveyor 15 will thereby be indexed.`

forwardly-to: carryiaifreshslab of material' into registry with;the gangiof syringes.. As .the 'piston"64ifreaches the-rl left-handffendmf its' stroke, anabutmentelement 100' (Figs. -3.and 8) will strike-f'thexactuating button of thef switch 93zto'close'said switchz93,.thereby establishingw'ani energizing circuitzforthe .solenoid 86,.'from one vside of' the Vtransformer throughl wire 90,.y switch 93, .wire' 1011,..

solenoid 86;'wire1102, and wire' 991to thexopposite side of the transformer'.- Thereby,fthe .slidel elementl82 of" thevalve'Sl :will be ylifted .to LsupplyI uid-under. pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 76 and-to'exhaust the!A loweriend ofrsaid cylinder? As the-.piston 77 starts 'downwardly, 'the'nger' 951releases the lever 96' and the switch 91 will open. gangzofsyringes`=-will be'fimoved andrthe pistons. 30 will be operated, in the manneriabove .described,.to"forceli lluid from;thrreservoir'38intoithe body 'of the slab 103'.

As the stem 48 nears thelower end "of its. strokegla finger.

104fadjustably *supported kthereon between I.the -hafndiwheel 51 andzthe jarnfnut:52,f.engagesi a 1leve1-f1051l'and Ishiftfs the."

same to close the switch 92, therebytestablishing' 'anenergizing .circuitvfor the solenoid# 74ffrornfonerside of 'the transformer'throughrwire 90;`switeh.92',. wire 106,vr sole-:l

noid 74, wire 107 and wire 99 to the opposite er-idl'oflthev transformera. Uponrenergiza'tion, the. solenoid- 74 will shift the slide member 69 of the-valve I68to its left-hand position to supply' airl'unde'r pressure to'the left-hand-end of thefcylinder'63l and to exhaust thefright-hand end ofi said cylinder; Note that thevalve 63 lisfnet actuated until after-,the` completionof the'expressing action of thezpistonsb 30,- Vso that the-pistonsremain `in -their-l lowermost'p'ositionsl during. retraction of1the"stem`-58.f' Thus, the' syringes are allowed-tov 'dwellfora period after expression oftheiuid i through the syringes,` to lpermitl owlof thesimpregnatin'g fluid throughith'e body ofthe yslab"14)3', beforethpisto'ns 30 begin' to .retractl The-:time extent of' this dwell can,4

of coursegibefcontrolle'd bythe-rate of* ow of airtoltle: left-hand end lof the cylinder 63; and, if desired, a manual!- ly manipulable 4'valve may* be 'introduced` into thev pipe" 67 VAor intothe pipe-66 to adjust the-rate of-rnovern'entofY the piston 64.

As the stem. 48 is .driven downwardly, theJ Upon completion of thefretractile movement of the stem 58;,1anuahuunenttelement l'lwcarrierlntf'tereby will engage the actuating `=buttonloftthe switch94 to close said switch, therebyestablishing an' energizing 'circuit for the rsoienofid 877.ffrom one side of the. transformer through wire 90.5 switch-594, wire 109, .solenoidwSfL ,;W.ire.1110 andwire 99 tothe other-side of the transformen Thereby, :slide member82`tof `valve 81 will be shiftedutovitsfllowermost:position tofsuppl'y air nnder pressure totherlowerendiofzthe cylinder 76=fand to exhaust the upper :endlof saidzcyl-inder, whereby the piston 77 will be moved upwardly to retract the stem 48. As the stem 48 is retracted, the cylinders 22 will be refilled with fluid from the reservoir 38, the needles 20 will be withdrawn from the slab 103, and then the gang of syringes will be lifted to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, all as described above. When the stem 48 reaches its uppermost position, the finger 95 will shift the lever 96 to close the switch 91, and the machine will move automatically through another cycle as above described.

We claim as our invention:

l. In a machine of the class described, a gang of syringes, each comprising a chamber, a piston reciprocable in said chamber, and a perforated needle communicating with said chamber, a travelling conveyor arranged to move past said gange of syringes, first power means for indexing said conveyor, step-by-step, past said gang of syringes, a second power means for reciprocating said gang of syringes toward and away from said conveyor to cause said needles to enter a product supported on said conveyor, said second power means acting, after such entry, to advance said pistons simultaneously to force fluid from said chambers and through said needles to permeate such product, and control means for said power means comprising an clement shifted by said first power means at the end of a conveyor-indexing actuation thereof to activate said second power means to advance said gang of syringes and said pistons, an element shifted by said second power means at the end of a piston-advancing actuation to activate said first power means to effect re` traction thereof, an element shifted by said first power means at the end of its retraction to activate said second power means to retract said pistons and said gang of syringes, and an element shifted by said second power means at the end of retraction of said gang of syringes to activate said first power means to index said conveyor.

2. In a machine of the class described, afgang of syringes, each comprising a chamber, a piston reciprocable in said chamber, and a perforated needle communicating with said chamber, a travelling conveyor arranged to move past said gang of syringes, a first fluid motor, a rack connected for reciprocation by said motor, means including a one-way clutch connecting said rack to drive said conveyor step-by-step past said gang of syringes, valve means for controlling fluid flow to and from said motor, electrically-activated means for shifting said valve means including a first circuit effective, when energized, to shift said valve means to advance said rack, a first normally-open switch connected in said first circuit, a second circuit effective, when energized, to shift said valve means to retract said rack, a second normally-openswitch connected in said second circuit, a second fiuid motor connected to reciprocate said gang of syringes toward and away from said conveyor to cause said needles to enter a product supported on said conveyor and, after such entry, to advance said pistons simultaneously to` force fluid from said chambers and through said needles to permeate such product, a second valve means for controlling fiuid flow to and from said second motor, and electrically-activated means for shifting said second valve means including a third circuit effective, when energized, to shift said second valve means to advance said gang of syringes and said pistons, a third normallyopen switch in said third circuit, a fourth circuit effective, when energized, to retract said pistons and said gang of syringes, a fourth normally-open switch in said fourth circuit, means driven by said second motor to close said first switch when said gang of syringes is fully retracted, means driven by said first motor to close said third switch when said rack is fully advanced, means driven by said second motor to close said second switch `when said pistons are fully advanced, and means driven by said first motor to close said fourth switch when said rack is fully retracted.

3. In a machine of the class described, a gang of cylinders, a perforated needle communicating with each cylinder; amistontreciprocablerin eachlc-ylinder, means providingfafvalveacontrolledinlet `toleach cylhderpatravelling conveyor, arranged a to; move past :said: needles,` :meansisupporting:` said. cylinders y to. .move 1 toward :and away "from :the path .of'said conveyonmeansufor driving rsaidly conveyor, step-by-step,-. past: sai'dt zgangY of cylinders, means' for' rreciprocating saidxgangvfof` .cylindersand for reciprocating Ysaid-pistons `trelatively` to .said cylinders, meanst activated when said cylinders reach their position most Wremotefrorn said conveyor to actuate said conveyor-driving means to advance said conveyor one step, means activated when said conveyor comes to rest to actuate said reciprocating means to shift said needles substantially into contact with said conveyor and then to advance said pistons in their cylinders to eject fluid from said cylinders through said needles, means activated when said pistons are fully advanced to retract said conveyor-driving means without affecting said conveyor, and means activated upon full retraction of said conveyor-driving means to actuate said reciprocating means to retract said pistons and to retract said gang of cylinders.

4. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, a first fluid motor including a reciprocable piston, a rack driven by said piston, a pinion meshing with said rack, one-way driving means connecting said pinion to drive said conveyor, a block mounted adjacent said conveyor for reciprocation toward and away from said conveyor, a plurality of injectors supported on said block and projecting toward said conveyor in the line of reciprocation of said block to enter an object supported on said conveyor in registry with said block when said block is advanced toward said conveyor, means providing a liquid reservoir in communication with said injectors, a second iiuid motor including a piston shiftable between projected and retracted positions, means actuated by said second fluid motor, upon projection of its piston, to advance said block toward said conveyor and subsequently to express liquid from said reservoir through said injectors, a source of fluid under pressure, a first valve means controlling ow between said source and said first motor, a second valve means controlling flow between said source and said second motor, means actuated by retraction of said second fluid motor piston to operate said first valve means to shift said first motor piston to drive said conveyor, means actuated by such shifting of said first motor piston to operate said second valve means to advance said second motor piston, means actuated by advance of said second motor piston to operate said first valve means to return said first motor piston, and means actuated by return of said first motor piston to operate said second valve means to retract said second motor piston.

5. In a machine of the class described, a conveyor, a first motor including a reciprocating element, means including a one-way clutch connecting said element to drive said conveyor step-by-step in one direction, means dominatmg said motor comprising a projecting electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate said motor to project said element and a retracting electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate said motor to retract said element, a first motor projecting switch dominating said projecting circuit, a first motor retracting switch dominating said retracting circuit, a block mounted adjacent the path of said conveyor for reciprocation toward and away from said path, a plurality of injectors supported on said block and projecting toward said conveyor in the line of reciprocation of said block to enter an Joject supported on said conveyor in registry with said block when said block is advanced toward said conveyor, means providing a liquid reservoir communicating with said injectors, reciprocating means operatively associated with said injectors and movable between a retracted position and a projected position to express liquid from said reservoir through said injectors, a second motor connected to drive said block and said reciprocating means, means dominating said second motor comprising a projecting electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate said second motor to move said block toward said conveyor and project said reciprocating means and a retracting electric circuit acting, when energized, to actuate said second motor to retract said block and said reciprocating means, a second motor projecting switch dominating said second motor projecting circuit, a second motor retracting switch dominating said second motor retracting circuit, said switches being normally open, means moved by said second motor to close said first motor projecting switch upon retraction of said block, means moved by said first motor to close said second motor projecting switch upon projection of said reciprocating element, means moved by .said second motor to close said rst motor retracting switch upon projection of said reciprocating means, and means moved by said rst motor to close said second motor retracting switch upon retraction of said reciprocating element.

' References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Prescott -2 Feb. 9, Harrington Feb. 5, Harrington Oct. 10, Zwosta July 10, Avery Feb. 26, Gannon et al. Oct. 27, 

